The Ultimate Return of Carlos

67

Carlos clutched Abby’s lifeless body tighter, his breaths ragged and desperate. Blood stained his suit, but he didn’t care. The world around him blurred, his mind too clouded by grief to register anything beyond the cold, dead weight in his arms. Abby was gone, and there was nothing he could do to bring her back.

A murmur rippled through the room. The guests, once frozen in shock, began to stir. Some whispered to each other, others backed away, horrified. Toby and Derek exchanged tense looks, unsure of what to do next. Derek’s hands trembled as he pulled out his phone, dialing for help. But in the back of their minds, they all knew it was too late.

The door to the balcony creaked open, and for a fleeting second, the fresh air felt like a cruel reminder that life was still moving outside, despite the horror unfolding inside. Alisha stood near the door, leaning against the frame, her eyes fixed on Carlos. Her smirk had softened into something more calculated, almost like a predator watc